A Productive Time in Vancouver

10th Network Meeting

On 2 February 2023, Big Ocean hosted its 10th in-person network meeting in Vancouver, the day before the 5th International Marine Protected Area Congress (IMPAC5) started. After opening cultural protocol and introductions, invited managers presented on their respective sites. With the political landscape for LSMPAs worldwide being much more challenging than just a decade ago, the main activity was to create the first draft of a Political Conditions Activity Table for managing agencies and partners to better communicate and strategize about how to achieve and maintain durability.

Big Ocean also welcomed two new member sites from Chile –– Area Marina Protegida de Multiples Usos Rapa Nui and Parque Marino Juan Fernandez! The sites presented gifts to the network and in return, Big Ocean gifted everyone paʻakai (Hawaiian ocean salt) to represent the connection we all share through the sea.

The network is grateful for and will benefit from the time spent building and nourishing the relationships that have served Big Ocean through very challenging times. The initial feedback from member sites and guests is that despite a 5-year gap in annual meetings, Big Ocean has maintained its Mystique.

Click to download the agenda and participant list.

5th International Marine Protected Area Congress

In the days that followed Big Ocean’s convening, the Vancouver Convention Center played host to thousands of ocean conservation professionals and high-level officials for IMPAC5.

Big Ocean managers present on topics ranging from capacity building to indigenous knowledge systems but the Congress itself has something for everyone, including related arts and culture events happening at various locations across the city.

A special day-long Caucus was hosted specifically for indigenous participants. The intention was the amplification of indigenous voices, and to share critical outputs and recommendations to the Leadership Forum, which happened on the final day of the Congress. The complete list of informal recommendations can be found here.

Infographics made by the indigenous IMPAC5 team from Alderhill.

Big Ocean is grateful to the Host First Nations— xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)— who welcomed participants into their traditional territories for IMPAC5. Their traditional knowledge and the beauty of Vancouver provided an environment for this Congress to flourish.